Revolution Online, January 15, 2009
Revolution Books Condemns Threats Against Speakers at Emergency Town Hall Meeting
Revolution received this press release from Revolution Books, New York City.
January 15, 2009 – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Press contact: Connie Julian, 917-449-9064, 212-691-3345
Revolution Books, 146 W. 26th Street (between 6th and 7th Avenue), NY, NY 10001
Revolution Books Condemns Threats Against Speakers at Emergency Town Hall Meeting
Speakers at an Emergency Town Hall Meeting, sponsored by Revolution Books at the Society for Ethical Culture under the demands of: "Stop the Israeli Massacre in Gaza" and "We Condemn the U.S. Role in this War Crime," were threatened by Jewish Defense Organization.
A few hours before a Revolution Books sponsored event on Tuesday, January 13, 2009, at the New York Center for Ethical Culture condemning the Israeli massacre in Gaza, threatening messages signed by the "Jewish Defense Organization" were pasted on the window of Revolution Books (the sponsor of the meeting) and in the area around the New York Society for Ethical Culture where the meeting was held. The Tuesday program went ahead and was attended by over 550 people.
Flyers signed by the "JDO" specifically targeted human rights activist Adam Shapiro, a founder of the International Solidarity Movement; the Revolutionary Communist Party USA; and a writer for Revolution newspaper, Alan Goodman (who had earlier unfurled a banner in front of the New York Memorial to the Holocaust proclaiming, "After the Holocaust, the worst thing that has happened to Jewish people is the state of Israel"). The poster attacked the speakers with lies, vile and racist language, and published what they claimed was Adam Shapiro's home address.
Speakers at the Tuesday "Emergency Town Hall Meeting—A Call to Act" included Abdeen Jabara, past-president of the American-Arab Anti Discrimination Committee; author Chris Hedges; former Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney; Alan Goodman; Adam Shapiro; Center for Constitutional Rights Vice President Peter Weiss; actress Vanessa Redgrave; and Najla Said, actress and daughter of Edward Said.
The threats against speakers were part of the ongoing suppression, distortion, and censorship of the truth about the Israeli massacre in Gaza, and part of the attacks on those who speak the truth about this. The entire political establishment in the U.S. is in full support of the Israeli all out war on Gaza—not one official of either the Bush or incoming Obama administration has spoken in condemnation. All but five members of Congress have voted in support, and Mayor Bloomberg went to Israel to voice his support. Israel has barred all reporters from Gaza. Cynthia McKinney was on a ship with relief supplies for Gaza that was rammed by the Israeli navy off the coast of Gaza. And, the mainstream media has almost completely whited out oppositional voices. In this context, vicious threats from the JDO must be recognized as dangerous and contributing to the suppression of the truth.
Revolution Books condemns these threats, and supports all those who have demonstrated and spoken out against the blockade and invasion of Gaza. Revolution Books will continue to be a center of information and the truth about Israel, Palestine, and the role of U.S.—including a place where people can get and connect with Revolution newspaper. Revolution Books will not be deterred from being a vital source for, and center of, radical and revolutionary discourse.
If you want to know and change the world—get down to Revolution Books.
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